Having fun with Summer Time...

I am loving the summer days of this season. Working outside has been typical for Alabama weather...hot, humid and sweaty, but since losing weight and getting healthier, I have found it is so much easier to work outside and I am loving the experience. 

Last year, I planted both male and female kiwi plants. How did I know? Because they came packaged that way lol. This summer, they produced amazing vines that were flowing beautifully across the ground and over a makeshift arch. So, my husband, Jerry, reused two posts from an old gazebo tent that once stood in the backyard and then a ceiling rafter to make the beautiful doorway for the kiwi plants to flow over. I love it! Maybe it will host some lights and a couple of birdhouses from the hooks he placed on each side of the posts. Beautiful... The little tractor was our boys' when they were small, first Garrett, then Joel and of course Ethan and cousin Hayden enjoyed playing with it.

In addition to the wonderful kiwi arch, we had our first blackberry picking

from our thornless blackberry bush...

sweet rewards of this delicious hot summer...

Hugs, Rita

Happy Father's Day...

In my life, I have had the gift of three dads! That's right, THREE! Not your typical way of thinking however...I had my dad, who celebrated his home going in 2009 and there isn't any reason I would wish him back to this life. He is happy, celebrating, and completely whole and healthy. Then there was my other day, my brother-in-law who I have told my parents, it was the best gift they ever gave me because it was the only way I would put up with having a sister lol. He was in my life from the time I was a little girl...Then by the time I was 16, my father-in-law showed up... How did I know that throughout my life, I would be mentored by such amazing examples of dad's. Then there is the best dad of all, the one in our home. Jerry is the best dad of all. He works hard, but plays and loves the best of all. However, I have the best example of all...the One that is truly the most amazing Father imaginable...the One that gave so much to adopt me into his family. That picked me out of so many options. Who told me I was beautiful, that He loved me and then gave His life for me...Happy Father's Day, God...I love you so very much.

Hugs, Rita

The Rain...

 Sitting at the Decatur Starbucks on Sunday...it began to rain...

Just thought the drops of rain on the glass were beautiful...

Journaling prompt: drops of rain...

What will you do with them...

Hugs, Rita

Just Breathe...and run Madison run...

 When I saw this on the wall of our gym bathroom, I took a photo of it. The day had been very long and very hard. Alzheimer's, Aspergers and Autism, my TripleA as I call them, had been very high strung all afternoon. To unwind, I went to the gym for a bit...as I was leaving the words hit me like a slap in the face. It's true, I will never live this moment again...so breathe...love it...live it...enjoy it...because...it's their moment too...

Madison is sixteen-years-old and came to us via a conversation I was having with her mother as she was telling me about her sitter quitting to do something else and needing someone to care for Madison after school and maybe during the times school was out. I was like, "...bring her to our house, we won't notice one more." Guess what, we haven't. She has fit in like the perfect socks on a sweet cold winter night. She has been amazing. Madison has disabilities similar if not just like Autism. Her verbal skills are limited but her understanding and drama is diva and very much like any sixteen year old girl. We laugh about her love of anything diva that's for sure. I have never known that since I have all boys. =)

When we started running, she would ask casually to go, but was never serious. When she was picked up at the park where we met to run, she was ready to go home with her mom. Then when Garrett started the program this spring, she showed little interest. Then after our graduation race and Garrett indeed proved a success pilot for the program, I wanted to begin Madison on a walking program. The NoBoundaries graduates decided to continue meeting on our regular night and the three of us with Madison went our first night, a week ago tonight. I planned to follow Madison's lead, walking, running, whatever she could do. I had no plans to push her or anything. I had bottles of water, a towel should she sweat and need it. Made sure she had comfortable shoes and socks as well as clothing as well as WENT to the bathroom prior to going to the starting line. =)

Then we got started running. I figured we would go a couple of blocks and turn around. We were last of the group as we slowly kept a good pace. She ran and continued to run a good slow pace. We ran and I would ask her questions to see how she was doing. When we finished, we had ran 2 miles. WOW!!! She was so proud, but a little tired. I was sweating like crazy, but not Madison. She barely broke a sweat! Oh to be sixteen again, ok, maybe not.

Then on Wednesday, it was sprinkling rain outside. So, I thought we wouldn't run that day. She came in saying: "Run, Rita, Run!!!" Jumping up and down. Guess what we did? We went to the local mall and we ran a slow run for 2 miles. She loved it! On Friday, we didn't run and she had a meltdown that afternoon. We had said nothing all day about running and then when I was telling her mom about the experience, she told me Madison had asked that morning about running. I had no idea. We had gone to Lego Camp which what I had thought would be enough stimuli for one day for both her and Garrett, but apparently, I should have considered the routine...I have created a monster. lol.

The routine is right. Madison knowing we are going to run at least 3 days each week is important. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for at least 2 miles will be our plan for this coming week. I will follow the NoBoundaries guide of running and walking a balance of so many minutes; which will start out walking 4 minutes and running 1 minute. I think Madison will move faster up the clock due to her age and ability to do more since she is already active with school opportunities.

When Jerry and I ran with Garrett, we created a comfort zone for him since he couldn't communicate if he needed to run or walk. I power walked the whole 3.5 mile course while Jerry ran it. I set the fast pace so Garrett wouldn't get too fast but would fall back. It worked beautifully. I am long legged so, keep up lol...

Madison, like our family, is eating healthy as well. I know there are studies out there for gluten-free lifestyles as well as fat free. However, I know that limiting fat and going gluten-free in our home as made a huge difference for the TripleA as well as my person battle with Fibromyalgia and ADHD then getting my weight under control as well as Jerry's. The kids speech has improved, the focus is better and the level of energy is so there. Loving the results we are seeing first hand.

Best of all...we are getting active, listening to each other and our bodies. Learning self-talk with positive reinforcements. Getting active without allowing limitations, excuses, and barriers stopping us. What about you? With Garrett and Madison, they have made the decision to run the race with smiles and zealous happiness and courage. What will you run the race with? Faith is always a great option for whatever the race might be.

Hugs, Rita

Garrett proudly finishes NoBoundaries and Runs his First 5k...

 Midnight hasn't become one of my favorite times of the day. Having to get up early in the morning to begin my farming duties and caregiving responsibilities means I won't to go to bed rather early. However, when Fleet Feet Huntsville posts their training programs and opens registration at midnight on that day, I am online getting registered. I was thrilled as I signed my husband, Jerry, myself and then our son, Garrett, up for this spring term of NoBoundaries, a 10-week couch to 5k training program that Jerry and I completed last fall. Our goal was for the three of us to someday run/walk together as a team. Well, we did it!!!!

 Our graduation race was Saturday, June 1st, 2013 at Veterans Park in Priceville, Alabama. Garrett, Jerry and I ran the race as TeamCobbs! It was so excited to have run with Garrett twice a week getting ready for this event...

Garrett was up at 5 am, dressed and ready for the 8 am race.

Just like every time we went out to practice, he had his shoes and tags ready...

We had him fitted at Fleet Feet for running shoes. Being limited verbally made this important to us, to know his shoes fit well. Garrett wears diabetic socks because he has very thick solid leg muscles and wants to wear "long" socks. Regular socks fit too tight and he wears a size 14-15 shoe, depending on who makes them.

Super proud parents with an amazing son!!!

Me, Garrett age 26 btw, and Jerry.

 For those of you who don't know, Garrett was born with various health issues and later was labeled with diagnoses of Fine Motor Cerebral Palsy, Aspergers, Mentally Challenged, Visually and Hearing Impaired with a 4 yr old mentality. However, his social skills are off the charts lol. He loves sports and can play regular baseball and softball rather well. He understands the score of competitive spots and of wining as well as losing. He has also fallen in love with running and power walking.

Silly TeamCobbs...

Garrett at the 3 mile time clock...I am just over his left shoulder...

The people in red shirts are our NoBoundaries coaches and mentors...

They were rockin' awesome!!!

WOOT!!! Crossing the finish line with River City Runners, which we are members of...

at just over 46 minutes (under our usual 55 minutes we had been coming in at...)!!!

Garrett with NoBoundaries coaches and organizers of the Priceville Group

Ron and Traci DeWeese giving Garrett his 3rd place Male Award

for his Age Group!!! Double WOOT!!!

Garrett had just said: "I'm speechless!" at winning...

 Regardless of obstacles in our lives, Garrett has demonstrated time and time again that we are not to focus on labels or excuses or even the finish line, but instead of the ultimate prize and then keep moving forward. There is much more to conquer even after the final prize is given.  We must keep pressing on for the ultimate prize, showing others that they can do it too. Garrett has never used the words, "I can't" or even "I won't". He says, "I don't know if I can do it, but I will try." That has become our way at looking at things too.

We are proud parents of all of our sons and daughers...

Garrett for demonstrating the power of success and not knowing or understanding limitations.

Joel for standing firm and representing others who can't speak for themselves.

Callie for the leadership, strength and peace she radiates to everyone she meets.

Ethan for living like nobody else, marching to his own drummer, knowing he can make a difference.

Madison for using her beauty, smile and living the example for others to follow.

Jerry for being the man of God leading our family and standing with each of us and for all of us.

Me for bringing our family to this point of getting healthy and strong, facing tomorrow boldly.

 

There is nothing in this life you cannot achieve.

There are no excuses you can offer.

There are only opportunities for successes,

hope and happiness of today and tomorrow.

The past doesn't matter, for it has nothing you should suffer.

You are a new person and 

in Him you are full of a new strength and power.

Hugs, 

Rita

Gluten-Free Bean Ragout with Cilantro-Cornmeal Dumplings and Recipe

For Mother's Day this year, Madison, my sweet BFF, gave me this wonderful cookbook...

Each week I make out 2 weeks worth of menus of supper, ending with Payday Friday Pizza Night!

This is one of the recipes I made from this cookbook,

but with a few changes...

Someday, I hope to have my spices in pretty organized containers;

maybe something vintage...

Loving the fresh peppers...

I chopped some yellow with the red the recipe called for...

The "thank you for coming bowl" is always handy...

Please don't stand on you head for this photo lol...

I also added some baby arugula to the recipe...

Let's get started with the recipe.

2 large onions, chopped

1 teaspoon chili powder

2 teaspoons cumin, ground

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 

3 cloves of garlic, minced finely

2 small zucchini, cut into 1/4 cubes (cut in half and then in half again, diced)

2 cups chopped red bell pepper

1 large portebello mushroom, diced

Place in a dutch oven on medium if you have a stove or 

high if you have a 2-eye burner lol.

Add 1 can 29 ounce'ish can of pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1 can 15 ounce'ish black beans, rinsed and drained

8 fresh radishes, sliced thinely

Set these aside.

These were pulled fresh from my father-in-law's garden!

Have you ever cooked with radishes!? They are so good... 

Stir all the vegetables well, cooking until tender.

Open two 15 ounce'ish cans of diced tomatoes, seasoned if you wish.

The flavors are fantastic...

Pour them in a bowl and set aside...

Stir vegetables...

Add salt and pepper to taste...

It's ok to taste them too!!! Yummmm  

Add the beans and radishes...

Stir, mixing well but gently...

Cover and cook for 3 minutes...Then add tomatoes.

Cook for 5 minutes...

Time to make the dumplings...you will need...

1 cup Gluten Free White Rice Flour

1 cup gluten free cornmeal

1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (important for binding in baking gluten free)

1/2 cup fat free Kraft cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro

1 cup fat free milk 

Mix all ingredients well with a mixer or by hand until the batter is creamy.

Drop by the spoon fulls on top of the bean ragout.

The Bean Ragout is bubbling around the dumplings...

It smells amazing...

Cover and allow to cook for 10 minutes or until a toothpick 

inserted into the dumplings comes out clean.

I baked the rest of the dough and it was cute and great for the freezer...

Cheese corn muffins...

Ready to serve...

one dumpling and a bowl of wonderful goodness... 

My family obviously loved it!!!

They even said so and had more than one serving...

With this recipe, it was ok that they did even without the dumpling

because it was loaded with vegetables, healthy and good for you...

I love finding recipes that I can change around to fit our healthy living lifestyle. 

I never liked cooking until I took this on as a challenge...

take any recipe and see if I can make it rockin' awesome healthy!!!

Rockin it Healthy!!

Hugs, 

Rita